3D image display device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a 3D image display device, including: a display panel displaying an image; a lens panel positioned on the display panel and has layers formed of different materials, refractive indexes of the layers being varied according to a driving voltage supplied from the outside; and a lens panel driver supplying the driving voltage to the lens panel.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2013-0112804 filed on Sep. 23, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional (3D) image displaydevice.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of information technology, the market of displaydevices, which are the connection media between a user and information,are growing. Thus, display devices, such as a Liquid Crystal Display(LCD), an Organic Light Emitting-Diode Display (OLED), anElectrophoretic Display (EPD), a Plasma Display Panel (PDP), and thelike, have been increasingly used.

Some of the above-described display devices are implemented as athree-dimensional (3D) image display device. 3D image display devicesare classified into a stereoscopic technique and an autosteroscopictechnique.

The stereoscopic technique uses parallax images of left and right eyesthat have a large 3D effect. The stereoscopic technique is divided intoa glasses method and a glasses-free method, both of which have been putto practical use.

In the related art, the glasses-free method changes a light path byusing a fixed lens array such as a lenticular sheet. However, thismethod has a disadvantage in that it is impossible to switch between atwo-dimensional (2D) image and a 3D image. For solving the disadvantage,glasses-free methods capable of switching between a 2D image and a 3Dimage, such as a liquid crystal filing method, a liquid crystal lensmethod, and a polarizing lens method, have been researched andcommercialized.

However, when the liquid crystal filing method, the liquid crystal lensmethod, or the polarizing lens method is applied to a display devicethat does not emit a polarization light source, a double structure needsto be employed or a particular structure needs to be added to thedisplay device, and thus a single 3D optical system cannot be employed.Therefore, improvements of the methods are required.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 3Dimage display device, including: a display panel displaying an image; alens panel positioned on the display panel and has layers formed ofdifferent materials, refractive indexes of the layers being variedaccording to a driving voltage supplied from the outside; and a lenspanel driver supplying the driving voltage to the lens panel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda 3D image display device, including: a display panel displaying animage; a lens panel positioned on the display panel, the lens panelbeing composed of materials of which refractive indexes are varied by anoxidation-reduction reaction; and a lens panel driver supplying thedriving voltage to the lens panel to induce the oxidation-reductionreaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompany drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated on and constitute apart of this specification illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a 3D display device according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a driving concept of the 3D image display device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a lens panel;

FIG. 4 illustrates a first exemplary view of driving voltages suppliedto a lens panel;

FIG. 5 illustrates a second exemplary view of driving voltages suppliedto a lens panel;

FIG. 6 illustrates light transmissive characteristics of a lens panelaccording to the driving voltage;

FIG. 7 is a first exemplary view of lower and upper electrodesconstituting the lens panel;

FIG. 8 is a second exemplary view of lower and upper electrodesconstituting the lens panel;

FIG. 9 is a third exemplary view of lower and upper electrodesconstituting the lens panel;

FIG. 10 illustrates display characteristics of a 3D image display devicewhen the structure of FIG. 9 is used;

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a 3D image display deviceusing an Organic Light Emitting-Diode Display (OLED);

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a 3D image display deviceusing a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD);

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a 3D image display deviceusing a Plasma Display Panel (PDP); and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic driving method of a 3Dimage display device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail embodiments of the inventionexamples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a 3D display device according toan embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 illustrates a drivingconcept of the 3D image display device of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a 3D image display device according to an embodimentof the present invention includes an image supplier SBD, a timingcontroller TCN, a display panel driver DRV1, a lens panel driver DRV2, adisplay panel PNL1, and a lens panel PNL2. The 3D image display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented in aglasses-free manner.

The image supplier SBD supports a two-dimensional mode (hereinafter, 2Dmode), a three-dimensional mode (hereinafter, 3D mode), or a 2D and 3Dmode. The image supplier SBD generates 2D image frame data in a 2D mode,3D image frame data in a 3D mode, and 2D and 3D image frame data in a 2Dand 3D mode. The 3D image frame data generally includes left-eye imageframe data and right-eye image frame data.

The image supplier SBD supplies timing signals such as a verticalsynchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, a dataenable signal, a main clock signal, and image frame data to the timingcontroller TCN. The image supplier SBD selects the 2D, 3D, or 2D and 3Dmode in response to the user's selection input through a user interface,generates image frame data or the like corresponding to the selectedmode, and supplies the image frame data to the timing controller TCN.The user interface includes user input units, such as an On ScreenDisplay (OSD), a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like.

The timing controller TCN receives 2D image frame data, 3D image framedata, or 2D and 3D image frame data from the image supplier SBD. Whenthe 2D mode is selected by the user input unit, the timing controllerTCN supplies the 2D image frame data to the display panel driver DRV1 ata frame frequency of 50 Hz˜60 Hz or the like. When the 3D mode isselected by the user input unit, the timing controller TCN suppliesleft-eye image frame data and right-eye image frame data to the displaypanel driver DRV1 at a frame frequency of 120 Hz or higher. In addition,the timing controller TCN supplies various kinds of control signalscorresponding to the image frame data to the display panel driver DRV1.

The display panel driver DRV1 includes a data driver connected to datalines of the display panel PNL1 to supply data signals to the datalines, and a scan driver connected to scan lines of the display panelPNL1 to supply scan signals to the scan lines. The data driver includedin the display panel driver DRV1 converts digital frame data into analogframe data under the control of the timing controller TCN, and suppliesthe analog frame data to the data lines of the display panel PNL1. Inaddition, the scan driver included in the display panel driver DRV1sequentially supplies the scan signals to the scan lines of the displaypanel PNL1 under the control of the timing controller TCN.

The display panel PNL1 receives the scan signals and the data signalsfrom the display panel driver DRV1 to display a 2D image, a 3D image, or2D and 3D images in response to the signals. In the display panel PNL1,a first substrate and a second substrate have different constitutionsaccording to characteristics of elements formed therein. However, thepresent invention may be applied to both a display panel to which apolarizing plate is attached to thereby emit a polarized light and adisplay panel to which a polarized plate is not attached to thereby emita non-polarized light, and specific examples thereof will be laterdescribed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lens panel driver DRV2 supplies driving voltagesVL and VU to the lens panel PNL2. The lens panel driver DRV2 suppliesdriving voltages VL and VU to lower and upper electrodes of the lenspanel PNL2, the driving voltages VL and VU being generated inside oroutside the lens panel driver DRV2 under the control of the timingcontroller TCN. The driving voltages VL and VU supplied to the lower andupper electrodes may be synchronized or non-synchronized with signalsoutput from the display panel driver DRV1. The lens panel driver DRV2outputs first and second driving voltages VL and VU having the sameelectric potential or first and second driving voltages VL and VU havingdifferent electric potentials, under the control of the timingcontroller TCN.

The lens panel PNL2 uses a conductive polymer and an electrolytematerial, which actively vary the refractive index thereof by thedriving voltages VL and VU supplied from the outside. The lens panelPNL2 receives the driving voltages VL and VU from the lens panel driverDRV2 to display a 2D image, a 3D image, or 2D and 3D images in responseto the driving voltages. The refractive indexes of the materials formedinside the lens panel PNL2 are varied according to the voltagedifference between the driving voltages VL and VU supplied to the lowerand upper electrodes. Specific descriptions associated with the lenspanel PNL2 will be set forth as follows.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail withreference to cross-sectional views of the lens panel.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a lens panel; FIG. 4 illustrates afirst exemplary view of driving voltages supplied to a lens panel; FIG.5 illustrates a first exemplary view of driving voltages supplied to alens panel; and FIG. 6 illustrates light transmissive characteristics ofa lens panel according to the driving voltage.

As shown in FIG. 3, a lens panel PNL2 includes a lower substrate 110, anupper substrate 120, a lower electrode 130, an upper electrode 140, alens layer 150, and an electrolyte layer 160.

The lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 120 each may be a glassor a film of a material giving flexibility and having excellentrestoring force, such as at least one selected from polyestersulfone(PES), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN),polyimide (PI), and polycarbonate (PC), but are not limited thereto.

The lower electrode 130 is formed on the lower substrate 110, and theupper electrode 140 is formed on the upper substrate 120. The lowerelectrode 130 and the upper electrode 140 face each other inside thelens panel PNL2. A first driving voltage VL is supplied to the lowerelectrode 130 and a second driving voltage VU is supplied to the upperelectrode 140. The lower electrode 130 and the upper electrode 140 maybe formed of a transparent conductive film of, for example, Indium TinOxide (ITO), Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), Indium Tin Zinc Oxide (ITZO), ZincOxide (ZnO), Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO), or graphene. Besides, atleast one of the lower electrode 130 and the upper electrode 140 may beformed as a multi-layered electrode made of a laminate of transparentoxide/metal/transparent oxide. Since the multi-layered electrodeexpresses a surface plasmon effect to have a high light transmittanceand a low resistivity, the multi-layered electrode can be applied whenthe lens panel PNL2 is implemented to have a medium or large size.

The lens layer 150 is formed on the lower electrode 130. The lens layer150 employs a conductive polymer, which can cause a reversibleoxidation-reduction reaction with the electrolyte material of theelectrolyte layer 160 when a particular voltage is applied thereto. Anexample of the conductive polymer constituting the lens layer 150 may bepoly(3-hexylthiophene), but any material that can cause anoxidation-reduction reaction with the electrolyte material as describedabove may be used. The lens layer 150 may be imprinted as a lenticularshape by using a soft mold. However, any manner in which the conductivepolymer is formed as a lenticular shape, such as extrusion molding,injection molding, or the like may be employed.

The electrolyte layer 160 is formed on the lens layer 150. Theelectrolyte layer 150 employs an electrolyte material, which can cause areversible oxidation-reduction reaction with the conductive polymer ofthe lens layer 150 when a particular voltage is applied thereto. Theelectrolyte layer 160 planarizes an upper portion of the lens layer 150.The electrolyte material constituting the electrolyte layer 160 fillsbetween the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 120 that arebonded to each other. As the electrolyte material constituting theelectrolyte layer 160, a material that has a lower refractive index (n)than the conductive polymer constituting the lens layer 150 may beselected. The electrolyte material constituting the electrolyte layer160 may be a solution type. The electrolyte material may be formed bybeing injected between the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate120 that are bonded to each other, but is not limited thereto.

As shown in (a) of FIG. 4, the second driving voltage VU supplied to theupper electrode 140 is set to swing between a first potential V1 and asecond potential V2, and the first driving voltage VL supplied to thelower electrode 130 is set to be maintained at a third potential V3. Thesecond potential V2 of the second driving voltage VU is similar or equal(equipotential) to the third potential V3 of the first driving voltageVL. When the second driving voltage VU has the first potential V1, avoltage difference is generated between the first driving voltage VL andthe second driving voltage VU. In this case, the lens layer 150 and theelectrolyte layer 160 have different refractive indexes.

As shown in (b) of FIG. 4, the second driving voltage VU supplied to theupper electrode 140 is set to be maintained at the third potential V3and the first driving voltage VL supplied to the lower electrode 130 isset to swing between the first potential V1 and the second potential V2.The third potential V3 of the second driving voltage VU is similar orequal (equipotential) to the first potential V1 of the first drivingvoltage VL. When the first driving voltage VU has the second potentialV2, a voltage difference is generated between the first driving voltageVL and the second driving voltage VU. In this case, the lens layer 150and the electrolyte layer 160 have different refractive indexes.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the lens panel is in a 3D mode when thevoltage difference between the first driving voltage VL and the seconddriving voltage VU is generated, and in a 2D mode when the voltagedifference between the first driving voltage VL and the second drivingvoltage VU is not generated.

In FIG. 4, the first driving voltage VL and the second driving voltageVU are set such that the voltage difference therebetween is ±0.1V orhigher (preferably, a voltage difference of ±1V or higher). However,when the voltage difference between the first driving voltage VL and thesecond driving voltage VU exceeds a particular range, the electrolytematerial constituting the electrolyte layer may be decomposed. Thus, itis preferable to consider this.

The descriptions with reference to FIG. 4 are for illustrating anexemplary case where the second driving voltage VU supplied to the upperelectrode 140 swings within a particular range and the first drivingvoltage VL supplied to the lower electrode 130 is maintained at aparticular voltage. However, these descriptions are merely for oneexemplary case. Thus, the second voltage VU supplied to the upperelectrode 140 may be set to be maintained at a particular voltage andthe first driving voltage VL supplied to the lower electrode 130 may beset to swing within a particular voltage range.

Examples of the first and second driving voltages supplied to the lenspanel are as shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 First and second driving voltages Classification 2D mode 3D modeConductive polymer +2 V(off) −2 V(on)  Electrolyte material +2 V(off) +2V(off)

As described above, the lens panel can allow conversion between the 2Dmode and the 3D mode by using a principle that a difference in therefractive index between the conductive polymer and the electrolytematerial is generated according to the voltage difference between thefirst driving voltage and the second driving voltage.

Meanwhile, when the lens panel continuously displays images in a 3Dmode, the lens panel driver may be exposed to bias stress since the lenspanel driver DRV2 needs to implement outputting while maintaining aparticular voltage. For solving this disadvantage, the first and seconddriving voltages VL and VU may be varied as follows only in a 3D mode.

As shown in (a) of FIG. 5, the second driving voltage VU supplied to theupper electrode 140 swings in a sequence of the first potential V1 andthe second potential V2, and the first driving voltage VL supplied tothe lower electrode 130 swings in a sequence of the second potential V2and the first potential V1.

As shown in (b) of FIG. 5, the second driving voltage VU supplied to theupper electrode 140 swings in a sequence of the second potential V2 andthe first potential V1, and the first driving voltage VL supplied to thelower electrode 130 swings in a sequence of the first potential V1 andthe second potential V2.

In order to output the driving voltages shown in FIG. 5, the lens paneldriver DRV2 may form the voltage difference in a manner in which thefirst and second driving voltages VL and VU are switched by the frameunit of at least N (N is an integer of 1 or greater). In this case,since the lens panel driver DRV2 need not implement outputting whilemaintaining any one voltage, the bias stress at an output terminal canbe reduced. Therefore, the image displayed in a 3D mode can maintain astabilized display quality.

As shown in (a) of FIG. 6, if the second voltage VU supplied to theupper electrode 140 is similar or equal to the first driving voltage VLsupplied to the lower electrode 130 (if VU≈VL), the light incident tothe lens panel PNL2 is emitted in a linear direction L. The reason isthat since the refractive index of the lens layer 150 is similar orequal to the refractive index of the electrolyte layer 160, the lenslayer 150 and the electrolyte layer 160 seems to be the same medium froma position of the incident light. Therefore, if the first drivingvoltage VL and the second driving voltage VU are supplied to be similaror equal (if VU≈VL), the lens panel PNL2 is operated in a 2D mode.

As shown in (b) of FIG. 6, if the second voltage VU supplied to theupper electrode 140 is different from the first driving voltage VLsupplied to the lower electrode 130 (if VU≠VL), the light incident tothe lens panel PNL2 is refracted and emitted in a first direction LL anda second direction LR. The reason is that since the refractive index ofthe lens layer 150 is different from the refractive index of theelectrolyte layer 160, the lens layer 150 and the electrolyte layer 160are different media from a position of the incident light. Therefore, ifthe first driving voltage VL and the second driving voltage VU aresupplied to be different from each other (if VU≠VL), the lens panel PNL2is operated in a 3D mode.

Meanwhile, when the lens layer 150 of the lens panel PNL2 is formed ofpoly(3-hexylthiophene) (hereinafter, abbreviated as P3HT), therefractive index (n) relationship between materials constituting thelens layer 150 and the electrolyte layer 160 may be expressed by “n ofP3HT≠n of electrolyte, and n of P3HT2+≈n of electrolyte”

Hereinafter, shapes of the lower electrode and the upper electrodeconstituting the lens panel will be described.

FIG. 7 is a first exemplary view of lower and upper electrodesconstituting the lens panel; FIG. 8 is a second exemplary view of lowerand upper electrodes constituting the lens panel; FIG. 9 is a thirdexemplary view of lower and upper electrodes constituting the lenspanel; and FIG. 10 illustrates display characteristics of a 3D imagedisplay device when the structure of FIG. 9 is used.

As shown in FIG. 7, the lower electrode 130 and the upper electrode 140respectively formed on the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate120 may be formed in an entire surface electrode type (or wholeelectrode type) corresponding to the sizes of the substrates.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lower electrode 130 and the upper electrode 140respectively formed on the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate120 may be formed in an entire surface electrode type and a stripe type(or line pattern), respectively. For example, the upper electrode 140may be formed in a stripe type and the lower electrode 130 may be formedin an entire surface electrode type, or vise versa. Meanwhile, whenstripe type of electrodes are formed, the distance between electrodesmay be optimally set through an experiment using materials of the lenslayer 150 and the electrolyte layer 160 formed in the lens panel PNL2.That is, the distance between electrodes may be varied depending on thematerials of the lens layer 150 and the electrolyte layer 160 formed inthe lens panel PNL2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the lower electrode 130 and the upper electrode 140respectively formed on the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate120 may be formed in a stripe type. For example, the stripe types oflower electrode 130 and upper electrode 140 may orthogonally intersecteach other, but are not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 10, a 3D image display device according to anembodiment of the present invention can display both a 2D image and a 3Dimage by using a display panel PNL1 and a lens panel PNL2. In order todisplay both the 2D image and the 3D image, the lens panel PNL2 may beformed to have an electrode structure shown in FIG. 9, but is notlimited thereto.

Hereinafter, a 3D image display device to which a lens panel accordingto an embodiment of the present invention is applicable will bedescribed.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a 3D image display deviceusing an Organic Light Emitting-Diode Display (OLED); FIG. 12 is aschematic cross-sectional view of a 3D image display device using aLiquid Crystal Display (LCD); and FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectionalview of a 3D image display device using a Plasma Display Panel (PDP).

As shown in FIG. 11, a lens panel PNL2 is formed on a display surface ofan OLED display panel PNL1, which emits a non-polarized light. The OLEDdisplay panel PNL1 includes a first substrate 210, a second substrate220, a thin film transistor array 230, and organic light emitting diodes240.

The thin film transistor array 230 is formed on the first substrate 210.The thin film transistor array 230 includes data lines, scan lines,switching transistors, driving transistors, and capacitors. Since thethin film transistor array 230 is formed in various types depending onthe structure of the thin film transistor, the thin film transistor issimplified and expressed as a block.

The organic light emitting diodes 240 are formed on the thin filmtransistor array 230. The organic light emitting diodes 240 each includea first electrode, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode. Thefirst electrode and the second electrode are selected as an anodeelectrode and a cathode electrode or a cathode electrode and an anodeelectrode. The first electrode is connected to a source electrode or adrain electrode of a driving transistor of the thin film transistorarray 230. The second electrode is connected to a high-potential voltage(e.g., VDD) or a low-potential voltage (e.g., VSS). The light emittinglayer is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode.The light emitting layer emits red, green, and blue lights. Thus, alight emitting layer included in a red sub-pixel R emits a red light; alight emitting layer included in a green sub-pixel G emits a greenlight; and a light emitting layer included in a blue sub-pixel B emits ablue light.

Meanwhile, the OLED display panel PNL1 may include a red sub-pixelemitting a red light, a white sub-pixel emitting a white light, a greensub-pixel emitting a green light, and a blue sub-pixel emitting a bluelight. In this case, all of the light emitting layers included in thered sub-pixel, the green sub-pixel, and blue sub-pixel emit a whitelight. In addition, the red, green, and blue sub-pixels further includered, green, and blue color filters converting the white light into red,green, and blue lights, respectively. However, since the white sub-pixeldoes not need a separate color filter for color conversion, the whitesub-pixel emits the white light as it is. That is, a color filter is notpresent in a region corresponding to the white sub-pixel.

Generally, a circularly polarizing plate may be attached to the displaysurface of the OLED display panel PNL1. Since the lens panel PNL2 may bealso applied to a display panel emitting a non-polarized light, thecircularly polarizing plate that is generally attached between the OLEDdisplay panel PNL1 and the lens panel PNL2 may be removed.

As shown in FIG. 12, a lens panel PNL2 is formed on a display surface ofan LCD display panel PNL1, which emits a polarized light. The LCDdisplay panel PNL1 includes a first substrate 210, a second substrate220, a thin film transistor array 230, color filters 250, upper andlower polarizing plates LPOL and UPOL, a liquid crystal layer 260, and abacklight unit 270.

The thin film transistor array 230 is formed on the first substrate 210.The thin film transistor array 230 includes data lines, scan lines,switching transistors, and capacitors. Since the thin film transistorarray 230 is formed in various types depending on the structure of thethin film transistor, the thin film transistor is simplified andexpressed as a block.

The color filters 250 are formed on the second substrate 220 (on aninner surface of the second substrate). The color filters 250 are formedof resins containing red, green, and blue pigments while a black matrixBM is disposed between the color filters 250. Although not shown, anovercoat layer may be further formed to planarize surfaces of the colorfilters 250. The liquid crystal layer 260 is formed between the firstsubstrate 210 and the second substrate 220. The lower polarizing plateLPOL is formed on a rear surface of the first substrate 210 and theupper polarizing plate UPOL is formed on a display surface of the secondsubstrate 220.

A backlight unit 270 is positioned on the rear surface of the firstsubstrate 210. The backlight unit 270 supplies a light through the rearsurface of the first substrate 210. The backlight unit 270 is selectedfrom an edge type in which a light source is positioned at one side ofthe first substrate 210, a dual type in which a light source ispositioned at one side and the other side of the first substrate 210,and a direct type in which a light source is position below the firstsubstrate 210. A light source of the backlight unit 270 is selected froma Light Emitting Diode (LED), a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL),and the like.

As shown in FIG. 13, a lens panel PNL2 is formed on a display surface ofa PDP display panel PNL1, which emits a non-polarized light. The PDPdisplay panel PNL1 includes a first substrate 210, a second substrate220, address electrodes 280, sustain electrodes 290, and scan electrodes295.

The address electrodes 280 are formed on the first substrate 210. Theaddress electrodes 280 are insulated by a lower dielectric layer. Thesustain electrodes 290 and the scan electrodes 295 are spaced apart fromeach other on the second substrate 220. The sustain electrodes 290 andthe scan electrodes 295 are insulated by an upper dielectric layer. Theaddress electrodes 280 are disposed to orthogonally intersect thesustain electrodes 290 and the scan electrodes 295.

Discharge layers 285 are formed between the address electrodes 280 andthe sustain electrodes 290 and the scan electrodes 295. The dischargelayers 285 are demarcated by partition walls PW. The discharge layers285 are classified into red discharge layers R, green discharge layersG, and blue discharge layers B according to the fluorescent layersformed therein. The partition walls PW are formed in one of a stripetype, a well type, a delta type, and a honeycomb type to definedischarge cells, in which a discharge gas is included.

As described above, a 3D image display device according to an embodimentof the present invention can be applied to OLED and PDP display panelsemitting a non-polarized light and an LCD display panel emitting apolarized light, and may be also applied to other display panels.

Meanwhile, each of the lens panels PNL2 shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 may usethe second substrate 220 of the display panel PNL1 positioned below as alower substrate thereof for thinning of the panel.

Hereinafter, a schematic driving method of a 3D image display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.However, the operation of the 3D image display device in a 2D mode and a3D mode will be described as one example, again referring to FIG. 14 andFIG. 1 for better understanding.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic driving method of a 3Dimage display device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 14, when a user turns on a 3D image displaydevice, the 3D image display device is driven. Here, the image supplierSBD, the timing controller TCN, the display panel driver DRV1, the lenspanel driver DRV2, the display panel PNL1, and the lens panel PNL2 startto be operated at an initial driving mode necessary for operation.

The display panel PNL1 is driven to display an image (S110). The displaypanel PNL1 is driven by the image supplier SBD, the timing controllerTCN, the display panel driver DRV1, and the like, to display an image.

The lens panel PNL2 is driven to transmit the image displayed on thedisplay panel PNL1 (S120). The lens panel PNL2 is driven by the timingcontroller TCN, the lens panel driver DRV2, and the like, and transmitsthe image displayed on the display panel PNL1.

The user using the 3D image display device selects a 2D image modethrough a user interface. Here, the driving voltages VU and VL outputthrough the lens panel driver DRV2 satisfy VU≈VL (S130), and thus thelens panel PNL2 transmits the image displayed on the display panel PNL1,as it is, to display a 2D image (S140).

The user using the 3D image display device selects a 3D image modethrough a user interface. Here, the driving voltages VU and VL outputthrough the lens panel driver DRV2 satisfy VU≠VL (S150), and thus thelens panel PNL2 divides the image displayed on the display panel PNL1into a left-eye image and a right-eye image and then transmits theleft-eye image and the right-eye image, thereby displaying a 3D image(S160).

As set forth above, according to the present invention, the lens panelformed of materials having refractive indexes varying depending on theoxidation-reduction reaction is used, thereby simplifying the panelstructure when the glasses-free 3D image is implemented. Further, thelens panel is applicable to the display panel emitting a polarized lightor non-polarized light, thereby realizing general-purpose 3D imagedisplay devices.

What is claimed is:
 1. A three-dimensional (3D) image display device,comprising: a display panel displaying an image; a lens panel positionedon the display panel, the lens panel comprising: a first electrode and asecond electrode positioned opposite the first electrode; a lens layercomposed of a lenticular type of conductive polymer, the lens layerpositioned between the first electrode and the second electrode; and anelectrolyte layer directly on the lens layer, the electrolyte layercomposed of an electrolyte; and a lens panel driver supplying a firstdriving voltage to the first electrode and a second driving voltage tothe second electrode of the lens panel; responsive to one of the firstdriving voltage or the second driving voltage swinging from a firstpotential to a second potential, the other driving voltage is maintainedat a potential equal to the first potential during a 3D mode of the 3Ddisplay device or the other driving voltage is maintained at a potentialequal to the second potential during a two-dimensional (2D) mode of the3D display device; wherein during the 3D mode of the 3D display device,the lens panel driver generates a voltage difference in the firstdriving voltage and the second driving voltage by outputting the firstdriving voltage at the first potential and the second driving voltage atthe second potential and switching by a frame unit of at least N, whereN is an integer of 1 or greater, to outputting the first driving voltageat the second potential and the second driving voltage at the firstpotential; wherein a refractive index of the lens layer and a refractiveindex of the electrolyte layer are varied according to the first drivingvoltage and the second driving voltage supplied to the lens panel. 2.The 3D image display device of claim 1, wherein the lens panel furthercomprises: a first substrate; a second substrate spaced apart from thefirst substrate and facing the first substrate wherein the firstelectrode is formed on the first substrate and the second electrode isformed on the second substrate and facing the first electrode; the lenslayer formed on the first substrate.
 3. The 3D image display device ofclaim 2, wherein the lens panel refracts a light incident from thedisplay panel when a voltage difference is generated between the firstdriving voltage supplied to the first electrode and the second drivingvoltage supplied to the second electrode, and emits a light incidentfrom the display panel when a voltage difference is not generatedbetween the first driving voltage supplied to the first electrode andthe second driving voltage supplied to the second electrode.
 4. The 3Dimage display device of claim 2, wherein the first electrode and thesecond electrode are formed in an entire surface electrode typeaccording to sizes of the first substrate and the second substrate. 5.The 3D image display device of claim 2, wherein one of the firstelectrode and the second electrode is formed in an entire surfaceelectrode type according to the size of the corresponding substrate, andthe other is formed in a stripe electrode type.
 6. The 3D image displaydevice of claim 2, wherein the first electrode and the second electrodeare formed in a stripe electrode type according to sizes of the firstsubstrate and the second substrate.
 7. The 3D image display device ofclaim 2, wherein the lens layer has a first refractive index and theelectrolyte layer has a second refractive index when the driving voltageis not supplied to the lens panel, the second refractive index smallerthan the first refractive index.